Duh. Right? I guess not.
The landlords quoted in this article are wrong. Landlords cannot change policies unilaterally, especially since the issue is addressed in the lease. Furthermore, the Madison General Ordinances address guest policies MGO 32.05(1)(g)
A landlord may regulate guests, but may not prohibit, a tenant from having all guests. Guest regulations, if any, shall be included in the rental agreement . . .
32.02(1)(f) Guest. Any person present on the leased premises with the consent of the current tenant
who is not listed in the lease.
So, if they want to regulate guests, they have to put that in the lease. It’s quite clear.
I hope students some day learn not to rely and landlords and the apartment association for their information – when you have questions like this, please call the Tenant Resource Center 257-006 or on campus (in the ASM office) 561-3727 or asktrc@tenantresourcecenter.org or uw@tenantresourcecenter.org.
I continue to be amazed and appalled by ASM, campus alders and the student newspapers in trusting the Apartment Association and their front group STEM over the Tenant Resource Center. When they do, the get erroneous advice as listed below.
According to its lease, Grand Central allows only two overnight guests per resident, per night. The rules during Freakfest allow two guests with wristbands.
Although Sandock was upset the changes did not square with wording in the lease she signed,
Sopple said MPM is within its rights because commercial landlords may impose “community policies” relating to safety and other concerns during the leasing period.
“Definitely, [property owners] have the ability to restrict the number of guests and create some community safety policies,” said Nancy Jensen, executive director for the Apartment Association of South Central Wisconsin.
But Jensen added she was unaware MPM and other complexes instituted the new wristband policy.
Expect more of the same misinformation at the upcoming Housing Fair that the Apartment Association is planning with ASM and excluding the Tenant Resource Center from. I hope students begin to realize that the reason they want to exclude the Tenant Resource Center is because we can easily expose their lies.
important post. Thanks, Brenda. I thought TRC was going to be at the fair. Did something change?
Well . . .Nancy had staff send us a registration “in the mail”. We can pay the standard nonprofit rate for a table. They’re going to rely on law school students to provide information . . . Instead of an organization with 30 years experience.
As an ASM rep, I completely agree with this article.
Someone tried to ask why if the lease says two overnight guests the two wrist bands are not a reasonable policy. Well, first of all, a tenant shouldn’t need a wrist band to get into their own apartment. A landlord can’t deny access to your own apartment because you are not wearing a wrist band that they suddenly decided to issue to you. Second, the 2 guests are limited if they are “overnight” guests, but just cuz someone comes over late at night doesn’t mean that they are staying over night. Finally, the whole point is that one side can’t unilaterally change the terms of a lease and the law says guest policies (including wrist band policies) need to be in the lease in writing.